SUMMARY OF SIGNFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified |
12 Months Ended | ||
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Dec. 31, 2014
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Dec. 31, 2013
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Dec. 31, 2012
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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] | |||
Goodwill impairment and write-off associated with sale of business | $ 0dgx_GoodwillImpairmentAndWriteOffAssociatedWithSaleOfBusiness | $ 37dgx_GoodwillImpairmentAndWriteOffAssociatedWithSaleOfBusiness | |
Equity method investments carrying value | 46us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments | 45us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments | |
Share of equity earnings from investments in affiliates | 26us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments | 24us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments | 26us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments |
Percentage of total revenues generated by medicaid and medicare programs | 17.00%dgx_RevenuesGeneratedByMedicaidAndMedicarePrograms | 18.00%dgx_RevenuesGeneratedByMedicaidAndMedicarePrograms | 19.00%dgx_RevenuesGeneratedByMedicaidAndMedicarePrograms |
Percentage of total revenues generated under capitated agreements | 3.00%dgx_PercentageOfTotalRevenuesGeneratedUnderCapitatedAgreements | 3.00%dgx_PercentageOfTotalRevenuesGeneratedUnderCapitatedAgreements | 3.00%dgx_PercentageOfTotalRevenuesGeneratedUnderCapitatedAgreements |
Purchase price discount ESPP | 15.00%dgx_PurchasePriceDiscountEspp | ||
Percentage of accounts receivable due from government payers | 14.00%dgx_PercentageOfAccountsReceivableDueFromGovernmentPayers | 13.00%dgx_PercentageOfAccountsReceivableDueFromGovernmentPayers | |
Percentage of receivables due from patients | 17.00%dgx_PercentageofReceivablesDueFromSelfPayerPatients | 18.00%dgx_PercentageofReceivablesDueFromSelfPayerPatients | |
Available-for-sale equity securities | 9us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecuritiesNoncurrent | 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecuritiesNoncurrent | |
Trading equity securities | 49us-gaap_TradingSecuritiesEquity | 50us-gaap_TradingSecuritiesEquity | |
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies | 30us-gaap_CashSurrenderValueFairValueDisclosure | 29us-gaap_CashSurrenderValueFairValueDisclosure | |
Other investments | 8us-gaap_CostMethodInvestments | 13us-gaap_CostMethodInvestments | |
Total | 96us-gaap_Investments | 92us-gaap_Investments | |
Gross unrealized gains from available-for-sale equity securities | 2dgx_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainLossAccumulatedInvestments | ||
Trading equity securities gain or (loss) | 3us-gaap_TradingSecuritiesRealizedGainLoss | 7us-gaap_TradingSecuritiesRealizedGainLoss | 5us-gaap_TradingSecuritiesRealizedGainLoss |
Changes in cash surrender value of life insurance policies | $ 1dgx_Changesincashsurrendervalueoflifeinsurancepolicies | $ 3dgx_Changesincashsurrendervalueoflifeinsurancepolicies | $ 2dgx_Changesincashsurrendervalueoflifeinsurancepolicies |
Minimum [Member] | |||
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] | |||
Equity method investment, ownership percentage | 20.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MinimumMember |
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Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life | 5 years | ||
Maximum [Member] | |||
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] | |||
Equity method investment, ownership percentage | 49.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaximumMember |
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Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life | 20 years | ||
Building and Building Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member] | |||
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] | |||
Property, plant and equipment, useful life | 31 years 6 months | ||
Laboratory Equipment and Furniture and Fixtures [Member] | Minimum [Member] | |||
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] | |||
Property, plant and equipment, useful life | 3 years | ||
Laboratory Equipment and Furniture and Fixtures [Member] | Maximum [Member] | |||
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] | |||
Property, plant and equipment, useful life | 7 years | ||
Internal Use Software [Member] | Minimum [Member] | |||
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] | |||
Property, plant and equipment, useful life | 3 years | ||
Internal Use Software [Member] | Maximum [Member] | |||
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] | |||
Property, plant and equipment, useful life | 5 years |
X | ||||||||||
- Definition
Net amount of accumulated unrealized gains (losses) on investments in availablefor- sale securities impacting investments. Represents the difference between the fair value and cost of investments in available-for-sale securities. No definition available.
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- Definition
The Company purchases life insurance policies, with the Company named as beneficiary of the policies, for the purpose of funding a non-qualified deferred compensation program. Changes in the cash surrender value of the life insurance policies are based upon earnings and changes in the value of the underlying investments. No definition available.
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- Definition
Loss recognized during the period that results from the write-down of goodwill after comparing the implied fair value of reporting unit goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill and write-off of the carrying amount of goodwill associated with all or a portion of a reporting unit that is sold in the period. No definition available.
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- Definition
This element represents accounts receivable due from government payers under the Medicaid and Medicare programs as a percentage of consolidated net accounts receivable. No definition available.
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- Definition
Receivables due from patients as a percentage of consolidated net accounts receivable. No definition available.
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- Definition
Percentage of Total Revenues Generated Under Capitated Agreements No definition available.
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- Definition
Discount percentage on the market price of Quest Diagnostics common stock under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan ("ESPP") No definition available.
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- Definition
Percent of Consolidated Revenues Generated by Medicaid and Medicare Programs No definition available.
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- Definition
Equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading which are intended be sold more than one year from the balance sheet date or operating cycle, if longer. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
Fair value portion of the amount that could be realized under a life insurance contract or contracts owned by the entity, commonly known as corporate-owned life insurance (COLI) or bank-owned life insurance (BOLI). Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
Amount, after adjustment, of cost-method investment. Adjustments include, but are not limited to, dividends received in excess of earnings after date of investment that are considered a return of investment and other than temporary impairments. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recognized. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
Useful life of finite-lived intangible assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. No definition available.
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- Definition
This item represents the entity's proportionate share for the period of the net income (loss) of its investee (such as unconsolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures) to which the equity method of accounting is applied. This item includes income or expense related to stock-based compensation based on the investor's grant of stock to employees of an equity method investee. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all investments. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment. No definition available.
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- Definition
Fair value of investments in trading equity securities and other forms of trading securities that provide ownership interests. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
This item represents the gain (loss) realized during the period from the sale of trading securities. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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